The Great Hunt -- Summary
The Wheel of Time Book #2 by Robert Jordan
Summary by Craig Cassar:
Edited by Karl-Johan Norén:
Prologue -- In The Shadow
The man called Bors is in a room in Shayol Ghul with a hundred other
Darkfriends. They are all in black robes, although Bors, thinking
himself more intelligent than the rest, points out to himself how many
of the others reveal their true identities by little things they have
left uncovered. For instance he notices the boots of an Andoran high
officer of the Queen's guard, the tattoo on the hand of one the Sea
Folk, the boots of a High Lord of Tear, a Tinker, a Shienaran and
warriors and commoners from all over the world. To their disbelief,
the Dark One appears in front of the group. He shows all of them
images of Rand, Mat and Perrin and then gives them each private
instructions. To Bors, he says, "Go back to Tarabon and continue your
good works," and, "Have your followers watch for the boys. They are
dangerous". As Bors prepares to leave the city, he unfolds his white
cloak with a emblem on the breast. It is a blazing Sun with a red
shepherd's crook behind it.
Chapter 1 -- The Flame of Tar Valon
Rand has put off leaving Fal Dara for a month now. He is practising
his swordsmanship with Lan, when a peculiar wind forces him into the
full of Lan's attack at his heart. Rand and Lan hear and see a large
party of Aes Sedai approaching the city.
Chapter 2 -- The Welcome
The Aes Sedai party, including the Amyrlin Seat, enter the city. Rand
finds that he has had all his old clothes replaced by many new fancy
garments on Moiraine's order. Rand decides to finally leave the city
on Lan's advice; Lan told him that since the Amyrlin Seat had come (a
very unusual event), it would be best if he were a week gone from Fal
Dara. To Rand's dismay, the stable boy (Tema) refuses to let Rand
leave because apparently Agelmar has ordered that nobody be allowed to
pass through the gates. Tema says to Rand that he must be happy since
the Amyrlin Seat should be sending for him any minute now.
Chapter 3 -- Friends and Enemies
While trying to slip through any gate he can, Rand tries to sweet talk
Ragan and Masema into letting him out. He is unsuccessful at all of
the gates. Trying to find a place to hide, he comes across Mat, Perrin
and Loial, playing dice with some workers in a store room. Rand gets
mad at the other boys and tells them that he wants to leave by himself
and is tired of them always getting in the way. While continuing his
wandering, Rand runs into Egwene who takes him down to the dungeon in
order to help him hide from the Aes Sedai. They visit Padan Fain who
says to Rand, "The battle's never over. It's never over, al'Thor.
Mordeth knows. It's never over. Never."
Chapter 4 -- Summoned
Moiraine is in her room when Anaiya and Liandrin come to summon her
into the presence of the Amyrlin Seat. On the way, the three Aes Sedai
discuss the three newly declared False Dragons in Saldaea, Murandy and
Tear, the declaration of the Hunt for The Horn, the arrival of Elayne
and Gawyn in Tar Valon (accompanied by Elaida), and the great
potential for the One Power within each of Elayne and Egwene, but who
are both overshadowed by Nynaeve. They also meet Lady Amalisa, the
sister of Lord Agelmar.
Moiraine enters the room of the Amyrlin Seat with only Leane, the
keeper, present. After some discussion, Leane is ordered to leave and
Moiraine and Siuan Sanche, two old friends, give each other a big hug.
Siuan: "Moiraine, if anyone, even Leane, discovers what we plan, we
will both be stilled. And I can't say they would be wrong to do it."
Chapter 5 -- The Shadow in Shienar
Moiraine and Siuan discuss such topics as the False Dragons, their
twenty-year long search for the ta'veren they have finally found,
whether or not Rand is really the Dragon Reborn and the Great Hunt for
the Horn. Moiraine (to herself): "...my dearest friend, I cannot tell
you everything, and I cannot risk letting you know I am holding
anything back."
Pedron Niall, Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light in
Amador, orders Geofram Bornhald to lead two thousand of the Children
to Tarabon to meet someone unknown to Geofram. They meet Einor Saren,
an officer of the Questioners, a division of the Whitecloaks.
Liandrin barges into Lady Amalisa's room accusing her brother of being
a Darkfriend. Liandrin is trying to use Amalisa by influencing her
with the One Power. She is looking for Rand, Mat and Perrin, and
acknowledges the existence of the Black Ajah, (even within the walls
of Fal Dara).
Padan Fain gets a long awaited visitor in his cell. Their identity is
a mystery to the reader, but they are presumably there to free him.
Chapter 6 -- Dark Prophecy
Rand has a dream where Trollocs are attacking his house; Mat has
stabbed himself with his dagger, Perrin has clawed out his own eyes,
and Padan Fain is there with the Dark One telling Rand that it is
never over. He wakes up in Egwene and Nynaeve's room where he was left
to hide from the Aes Sedai. Nynaeve is in the room with him. Believing
Shai'tan to be dead, Rand carelessly names him and that is when the
alarm bells start to ring. ('Name the Dark One and his evil comes down
upon you...'). Rand panics as he is worried about Egwene; she went
down to the dungeon to talk to Padan Fain again. Nynaeve tries to stop
him from leaving the room, but he can't be stopped.
While running down the halls of the women's apartments, he comes face
to face with Siuan for a moment. Once outside he encounters Trollocs
and a then a Fade that has just won a battle with seven Shienaran
soldiers. Much to Rand's relief, Ingtar arrives to take on the
fearless without an ounce of fear in his eyes. Rand continues on to
the dungeon. The two guards have been beheaded and their blood has
been used to write messages on the wall; "We will meet again on Toman
Head. It is never over al'Thor."
Liandrin and Moiraine arrive, separately, a few moments later. Rand
has discovered Padan Fain's cell empty and Egwene and Mat unconscious
on the floor, in front of it. Mat's dagger is gone. Ingtar arrives
informing them all that the Horn of Valere has been stolen. He also
tells Rand that Agelmar had not sent down an order earlier in the day
to stop anyone from leaving the city. Rand suspects Moiraine. After
leaving the dungeon, Rand runs into Lan who tells him he can leave at
anytime.
Chapter 7 -- Blood Calls Blood
Moiraine, The Amyrlin, Leane and Verin work together to partially heal
Mat from the damage of having his dagger stolen. They decide that Mat
is going to have to go out hunting for the dagger himself since it
will affect anyone who carried for it an extended period of time.
Verin reads the "prophecy" that was written in blood on the wall of
the dungeon. In it there are references to Lanfear (one of the
Forsaken), the return of Artur Hawkwing's Armies, and a man (Rand) who
can channel. Verin implicitly tells Moiraine and Siuan that she knows
about their plans for Rand; she had suspicions twenty years ago when
Moiraine and Siuan were still only Accepted.
Perrin visits Mat in the infirmary and has a confrontation with Leane.
She asks him how he came about getting yellow eyes. Perrin is still
mad at Rand for when he said he didn't want anything to do with his
old friends. Lan comes to tell Rand he has been summoned for an
audience with the Amyrlin. Lan gives him a quick talk with many rules
of etiquette to follow in the presence of the Amyrlin Seat. "There is
one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it
on your feet."
Chapter 8 -- The Dragon Reborn
Rand is incredibly nervous as he walks into the presence of the
Amyrlin for the first time. He is afraid that the three of them there
(the Amyrlin, Moiraine and Verin) are going to gentle him. Moiraine
tells the Amyrlin about Tam al'Thor's career as a soldier when he was
younger and how he returned from the Aiel war with a wife from Caemlyn
and a newborn child. Most of this story is news to Rand. Furthermore,
he is told by The Amyrlin that he is The Dragon Reborn and how his
destiny is to face The Dark One. Rand still believes that Ba'alzamon
is dead. Rand is given the option to stay in Fal Dara or to leave with
Ingtar's men to find the Horn. He decides to go with Ingtar.
The three Aes Sedai are unsure of themselves and the prophecies that
they have to see Rand fulfill.
Nynaeve can sense a storm coming even though it is clear outside. It
is something she has never felt before, like it should be too far off
for her to feel it. While looking for Rand she finds Lan who gives her
his signet ring with a golden crane flying above a lance and a crown.
While preparing to leave, Rand goes over to the women's apartments to
say goodbye to Egwene and, in the process, creates a disturbance among
the women. They hug each other and she thinks she heard him say "I
love you", to her. Rand turns and walks away quickly.
Chapter 9 -- Leavetakings
Both the parties to Tar Valon and to find The Horn are preparing to
leave. Lan tells Rand about sheathing his sword. "There may come a
time when you must achieve a goal at all costs. It may come in attack
or defense. And the only way will be to allow the sword to be sheathed
in your own body." An arrow grazes the Amyrlin. Both she and Rand
believe it was meant for him. The Amyrlin sends a man off to scout in
Maradon. It's reported to Ingtar that two guards, Chango and Nidao are
not accounted for. This pins them for the Darkfriends responsible for
the attack the previous night. Rand is introduced to Hurin, the
sniffer. Ingtar has kept him a secret from the Aes Sedai in fear that
they would not understand his talents. Hurin can smell violence. He
will be the one directing Ingtar's men in the correct direction to
find the Horn.
Bayle Domon, captain of the Spray, is in Illian. Three times strangers
have offered him large sums of money to deliver mysterious goods. He
is on his way to meet some more people. Bayle identifies them as
Cairhienan's. They are offering him 1000 gold marks to deliver a
sealed scroll to Mayene, in Tear. He accepts and takes 200 marks up
front. Upon returning to his ship and having his crew preparing to
leave in the middle of the night, Bayle opens the document. It names
him (the carrier) as a Darkfriend and is apparently signed by the King
of Cairhien. Domon thinks he knows what it is they want from him: the
cuendillar disk he keeps hidden in his cabin. He decides to head west,
the opposite way of where they want him to go.
Chapter 10 -- The Hunt Begins
Ingtar's band of twenty lances sets out with Rand, Mat, Perrin and
Loial. Ingtar sets an almost insane pace for the party. When they stop
after the first day Ingtar makes comments on how Rand resembles an
Aiel. "Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with
teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in
Sightblinder's eye on the last day... that is how long the Aiel say
they'll fight." The next morning they set out only to find that their
prey is changing course - north. They come upon a deserted village on
the River Erinin. While they are in the village Uno claims to see a
woman in a window, but no one is found. Once across the river they
find Changu and Nidao skinned alive. Ingtar gives order to bury them
even though they are believed to be Darkfriends. "The Light shine on
you and the Creator shelter you. The last embrace of the Mother
welcome you home... They saved Lord Agelmar at Tarwin's Gap."
Before sundown, they reach the village of Harad Dakar it too is
abandoned. Rand enters a house and....Blink....he sees a family at
dinner. There are the parents and six children. One of them screams
and the front door opens....Rand sees this several times. Ingtar's men
find a Fade nailed across a door. Even the best soldiers are affected
by this as they quickly head out south - on the trail.
Chapter 11 -- Glimmers of the Pattern
Ingtar stops the party to make camp while it is still light out. He
tells Rand that he has the responsibility of being second in command
thus having to take charge if something happens to Ingtar. He also
gives Rand a bundled package that Moiraine instructed him to pass on
after they had crossed the Erinin. While Rand is opening it, away from
camp, Mat and Perrin come to find him. It is at this point that Rand
tells them that the Aes Sedai are trying to use him as a false Dragon,
that Moiraine told him he is the Dragon Reborn and that he can
channel. This helps Mat and Perrin understand Rand's actions in Fal
Dara. Mat is now somewhat scared of him, whereas Perrin is not.
Padan Fain has made camp with his Trollocs, his Darkfriends, and the
villagers he has kidnapped. He reveals that it was him who crucified
the Myrddraal. He also describes how he can sometimes feel Rand
following him and how the stolen ruby hilted dagger makes him feel
"whole". "Come to me, al'Thor. The dance is not even begun yet. We'll
dance on Toman Head and I will be free of you. I'll see you dead at
last."
Chapter 12 -- Woven in the Pattern
The story goes back to Fal Dara just after Ingtar's party has left.
Agelmar is almost begging the Amyrlin to stay another day. The Aes
Sedai leave shortly thereafter for Tar Valon. Moiraine has not spoken
to Egwene or Nynaeve for quite a while. When they stop that night
Verin goes to the Emond's Fielder's tent to give them lessons and
tells them that a different Aes Sedai will do so each night of their
journey. While trying to make a breeze, Nynaeve burns the pile of
blankets beside her.
When they arrive in the town of Moran, Egwene tells Anaiya about a
dream she had of Rand and how she believes he is in danger. Anaiya
says that Egwene might be a Dreamer, a rare gift in Aes Sedai since
the Age of Legends. Moiraine, Verin and Liandrin have all left,
separately, without telling anyone. The remaining Aes Sedai, along
with Egwene and Nynaeve, board the River Queen.
Chapter 13 -- From Stone to Stone
Rand wakes up in a place similar to where he fell asleep, but only
Loial and Hurin are with him; the rest of the party is gone. Loial
says that the stone they slept beside was used by Aes Sedai in the Age
of Legends to travel between alternate realities. Rand realizes it was
him who sent them to this place. He willingly enters the void and
touches the One Power for the first time while trying to use the stone
to get them back to their world. The void shatters like glass when he
does so. Hurin says he can still follow the trail. It is just dull,
like the rest of the new world. Rand accepts that Hurin and Loial are
depending him to get them back and promises them that he will.
Chapter 14 -- Wolfbrother
Ingtar, Perrin, Mat, and the lances wake to find the three missing.
Agelmar is outraged that there is no trace of their departure. Perrin
reaches out to the wolves in order to find out where they disappeared
to. The wolves have named him Young Bull. The wolves eagerly take on
the trail of the Trollocs. Perrin tells Agelmar about what he can do.
Agelmar mentions a former Warder named Elyas Machera who had the
talent also. They both agree to tell the others that Perrin is a
sniffer and is going to continue following the trail.
Verin comes up on the party from behind. She is going to travel with
them. Perrin realizes that she is there to find Rand, not the Horn.
"Wherever you've gotten to, Rand, stay there. It's safer than here."
Chapter 15 -- Kinslayer
Rand, Hurin and Loial are heading south on what they believe to be the
trail of the Darkfriends they are after. Hurin says that the trail he
is following is like he is remembering it, not really smelling it.
Loial stops the others at a tree to which he sings. The tree is sung
wood, wood that produces what the singer needs. When he is done the
tree is as staff in Loial's hands. There is a small shoot where the
tree once was.
When they stop for the night, Rand sees Ba'alzamon on the edge of
their camp, but he is not truly there. Ba'alzamon calls him by his
'true' name, Lews Therin. He taunts Rand with the fact that he is the
only one able to teach Rand how to use saidin. Rand refuses him once
again and is left with the mark of a heron burned onto his palm.
Chapter 16 -- In the Mirror of Darkness
Rand manages to conceal the newly burned heron on his palm from Hurin
and Loial. While riding that morning they come across a tall spire
that looks like that of Artur Hawkwing, except that it was destroyed a
thousand years ago. Once up close they realize that it is a statue of
Ba'alzamon. It is this that leads Loial to conclude that they really
are in a parallel universe -- one where the Shadow was victorious in
the Trolloc Wars. Once on their way again, they hear a woman's cry,
the first sign of another living being since the Stone. Rand kills the
grolm that is attacking her. He let loose an arrow that flies true,
into the creature' eye. The woman is the most beautiful Rand has ever
seen, her name is Selene and she says she comes from Cairhien. They
tell her of their quest and she seems quite vehement that Rand find
the Horn and receive the glory he deserves. While back on the trail of
the Darkfriends, a pack of grolm takes chase of the party.
Chapter 17 -- Choices
Rand kills five, but dozens more can be heard on their trail. Rand is
left no option but to reluctantly head for the Stone on Kinslayer's
Dagger to escape. Once at the Stone, Selene shows Rand what marking
represents the Real World, and Rand uses the One Power to get them
back. Selene tells them about how the Stone takes you to Mirrors of
the Wheel -- what could have happened in the past, and what could
still happen in future. Rand decides to make camp for a few days and
wait for Ingtar and his lances to show up.
Chapter 18 -- To the White Tower
Egwene and Nynaeve are on the River Queen, just a few hours from Tar
Valon. Egwene is still having dreams of the man in the mask with the
fiery eyes and the sense that Rand is ever in increasing danger. The
Amyrlin enters their small cabin order to give them their lesson for
the day. There is a great amount of tension, brought on by
stubbornness, between Nynaeve and the Amyrlin. The Amyrlin suspends
Nynaeve in the air which gets her so mad that she is able to do the
same to the Amyrlin.
The ship arrives in Tar Valon. The two women find that they have been
left behind at the docks as everyone has already entered the city.
While walking around, they meet Sheriam, Mistress of Novices. Nynaeve
tells her that she is not to become a Novice, and Sheriam tells them
how hard their lives will be in the White Tower.
Chapter 19 -- Beneath the Dagger
Several days have past on the slope of Kinslayer's Dagger, Selene is
continually urging Rand to seek out the Horn and to use it to obtain
great amounts of glory. Rand says that he doesn't want glory each time
she persists. Rand has made the decision to leave for Cairhien the
next day if Ingtar hasn't arrived by then. Hurin spots a fire a couple
of miles away that they conclude must be Fain and his Trollocs. Rand
and Loial head out to scout and possibly bring back the Horn and the
dagger. They find the entire camp asleep and manage to get both items
out. Moments later, Fain awakens and alerts the Trollocs. Rand manages
to slay the groups that find them (he resists very strong urges to
destroy them all with the Power), and they escape back to their camp.
Selene is very adamant about Rand using the Horn for glory but Rand
ignores her advice. He puts the dagger in the chest with the Horn to
shield them from its evil. He decides to head for Cairhien and wait
for Ingtar there.
Padan Fain: "I am a dog no longer. A dog no longer! You will pay for
what you have done to me, al'Thor! The World will pay. The World will
pay!"
Chapter 20 -- Saidin
Rand and group travel on through the night to Cairhien. Selene denies
being Aes Sedai to Rand. The next day they approach a village. Just
outside of the village, they come across a large excavation project.
All that is above ground is a hand holding a sphere and a man's
bearded face. Standing at the edge of the cliff overlooking the
statue, Rand is overcome with Saidin and mentally chants the Aiel oath
concerning the Dark One (...to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the last
day). He is oblivious to the group and almost falls over the edge.
They enter the village of Tremonsien. Selene very strongly urges Rand
to take the Horn for himself, but he stays true to himself yet again.
Chapter 21 -- The Nine Rings
Rand's party enters the Nine Rings inn. The innkeeper, Mistress
Madwin, immediately takes Rand as a Lord, Selene as his Lady and Loial
and Hurin as retainers. Most of Rand's behaviour is very un-Lord like
to all those watching. Rand plays the flute in the common room which
elicits a visit from a man named Caldevwin, a Captain of the Cairhien
Royal Guard. He asks if they would mind traveling the remainder to
Cairhien with part of his guard. Rand accepts.
Loial tells Rand all about Daes Dae'mar, the game of Houses and how
Caldevwin probably suspects something of Rand. Rand wishes no part of
these games. In the morning, Selene has gone but has left a note
telling Rand to meet her in Cairhien. Hurin informs Rand that the inn
was watched during the night which adds suspicion to Caldevwin's
motives. The group of travelers and soldiers heads down the road to
Cairhien.
Chapter 22 -- Watchers
Moiraine is frustrated with how little control she has over what is
happening. She and Lan are staying with two old Aes Sedai, Adeleas and
Vandene, in Tifan's Well, a small village in Arafel. She is
researching a number of topics. Her and Lan have a long discussion
about when they met, their goals, and how she thinks Lan's bond to her
is weakening. She tells him about how he will be passed on to another
Aes Sedai when she dies. Moiraine is a little of jealous of how
Nynaeve has started to break down the walls that Lan has always had
around himself. After a conversation with Vandene about the Horn,
Tarman Gai'don, and the Dragon. Afterwards, Moiraine goes outside. She
is almost kissed by a Draghkar that is there waiting for here. A
Draghkar's kiss is fatal. Caught up in its trance, it takes Jaem and
Lan to save her just in time. Moiraine credits her life to the
Pattern. Lan had gone outside to practice with Jaem to let off steam
from the argument they had had and it was that that allowed him to be
there in order to save her life. The three Aes Sedai know that a
creature of the Dark One couldn't have gotten that close without all
of them knowing it was there unless it was warded by another Sister.
This confirms the presence of the Black Ajah.
Chapter 23 -- The Testing
Nynaeve is tested to become one of the Accepted. She is in the testing
room with the ter'angreal consisting of the three rings. Upon entering
each ring she will face her greatest fears concerning her past, her
present and her future. The other Aes Sedai make her strip naked and
allow her to enter the first ring. She is told that she is allowed to
leave at this point and try again later. On the third failure to
proceed she will be asked to leave the tower. Nynaeve refuses to back
down. She is told that the way back will only come once and to be
steadfast.
Inside the first ring Nynaeve confronts Aginor. She is in a maze and
is unable escape him. She uses the One Power to delay him, but is
unable to destroy him. When she gets the chance to finish him off she
sees the way back and overcomes her urge to seek Revenge him. Once she
is out she describes to Sheriam what happened. Sheriam is dumbfounded
by the fact that Nynaeve, unlike any other Aes Sedai, was able to use
the power inside the ter'angreal.
Inside the second ring she finds herself back home in the Two Rivers,
only nothing looks right. It seems that a woman named Malena is now
Wisdom and has greatly influenced life in the town since then. Bran
and Master Luhhan are dead. Nynaeve is about to confront Malena to
defend Marin al'Vere and the rest of the town when the way back
appears. Nynaeve manages to leave while hearing Marin screaming in her
state if abandonment.
The third ring, Nynaeve's future, is the toughest of all. She is
married to Lan, the crowned King of Malkier and they have several
children. It is paradise for her. She misses the gate because of her
great longing to stay with Lan and her family. Only by filling herself
with the Power is she able to reopen the gateway back into the real
world.
Once outside the ring, Nynaeve is cleansed and anointed as one of the
Accepted.
Chapter 24 -- New Friends and Old Enemies
Egwene meets Elayne, also a novice, and Min who is there because of
her ability to see visions concerning the people she looks at. They
make friends very quickly. One of the things they discuss is the fact
that there are only forty novices in the Tower and that only a few of
them will be raised to Accepted. Min reveals a vision that Elayne is
going to have to share her husband with two other women. Shortly
thereafter, Gawyn and Galad approach. Galad charms Egwene of her feet
-- not that it was really necessary since she is overcome by his
looks. Egwene is surprised to find out that they all know of Rand and
have previously met him.
Elaida interrogates Min about Rand but she is (just barely) able to
lie to her to protect him from whatever schemes she knows must be
hidden within Elaida's mind.
Chapter 25 -- Cairhien
Rand, Loial, and Hurin enter the city of Cairhien. The Foregate is
filled with people celebrating and parading around with puppets of
such things as Trollocs and other beasts. They enter the city proper
and get a room. The innkeeper briefly mistakes Rand for an Aiel. Upon
returning to the common room with Hurin, the innkeeper gives Rand
three invitations from (other) Lords. He throws them into the fire
declaring, out loud, that he is not playing Daes Dae'mar. Rand wanders
into a hall where a gleeman is performing. It is Thom Merrilin, much
to Rand's surprise. They make plans to meet later, once Thom has
finished performing.
Chapter 26 -- Discord
Rand goes back to the inn to tell Hurin and Loial that Thom Merrilin
is alive. He tries to get Loial to come and meet him but the Ogier is
very wary about going out because of the fact that another Ogier might
see him and get him in trouble with his elders. Rand forces him to go.
When they find Thom's room there is a young woman inside juggling. Her
name is Dena. Rand tells Thom about all he has been through since Rand
thought he was dead. From what Rand says, Thom believes that Rand is
not the one that Moiraine was looking for (a man who could channel).
Since Rand is so adamant about staying away from Aes Sedai, Thom
decides to stay away as well and declines Rand's offer to travel with
him again.
During their conversation, Rand asks Thom if he knows of any books
about the Karaethon Cycle. Thom quotes two passages he has read:
Twice and twice shall he be marked,
twice to live, and twice to die,
Once the Heron to set his path
and twice the heron, to name him true
Once the Dragon, for remembrance lost,
Twice the Dragon, for the price he must pay.
Twice dawns the day when his blood is shed,
Once for mourning, once for birth,
Red on black, the Dragon's blood stains the
rocks of Shayol Ghul,
In the Pit of Doom shall his blood free men
from the Shadow.
Chapter 27 -- The Shadow in the Night
While returning to their inn, Rand and Loial are attacked by Trollocs
and Darkfriends. The Trollocs had posed as the large puppets that men
were carrying around the city. Although Rand manages to slay the first
Trolloc, they are eventually forced out of the city as their way to
the inn and the Horn, is blocked by Trollocs and Darkfriends searching
for them. Selene finds them and they head out to the Illuminator's
building a mile out of town. They manage to find a way in and while
hiding inside from the Illuminators, the Trollocs, too, find their way
in. Rand allows them to escape by lighting a large batch of fireworks
and firing them at the Trollocs, destroying them along with that part
of the building. Selene stays behind against Rand's wishes.
Upon returning to the inn, Rand receives a note from her that says:
When I think I know what you are going to do, you do something else.
You are a dangerous man. Perhaps it will not long before we are
together again. Think of the Horn. Think of the glory, and think of
me, for you are always mine.
Chapter 28 -- A New Thread in the Pattern
Perrin, Mat, Verin, and Ingtar and his men are traveling across
Kinslayer's Dagger. Perrin tells Ingtar about Shadowkiller, the man
the wolves have seen who is traveling with Fain and the Trollocs.
An Aiel confronts the party. His name is Urien, and Mat remarks how
much he looks like Rand. Urien says the Aiel have left the Three-Fold
Land because He Who Comes with the Dawn is coming soon. They say they
will know him by a sign. He scrawls it in the dirt. Mat, Perrin, and
Verin are awestruck by this symbol-the ancient symbol of the Aes
Sedai. Throughout the conversation Urien looks like he is ready to
fight but Ingtar dissuades him. Once gone, Verin tells Ingtar to press
on harder for they must hurry.
Chapter 29 -- Seanchan
Geofram Bornhald is in a small village with his Children in the wake
of the destruction of the Seanchan. They also call themselves the
Hailene, Those Who Come Before and, The Forerunners. They also speak
of the Corenne, the Return. They are supposedly Artur Hawkwing's
Armies returned from over the Aryth Ocean. Bornhald receives word from
Jaichim Carridin of the Questioners to turn his men back as they are
getting too close to Toman Head. Bornhald intends to ignore this
command and head on to confront these Seanchan who he believes to be
Darkfriends.
Off of the coast of Toman Head, Domon and the crew of the Spray have
an encounter with one of the hundreds of Seanchan ships that have
crossed the Aryth Ocean. Their ship is boarded by a woman in armour
who names herself Captain Egeanin, a woman with what Domon believes to
be a Aes Sedai on a leash and two soldiers. The woman on the leash has
the powers of an Aes Sedai and is called damane. Egeanin commands the
Spray to Falme to swear their oaths of fealty to obey, to wait, and to
serve. She makes references to how Domon and his land must pay for the
sins of their ancestors.
Once ashore in Falme, the Spray is searched and Domon is taken to see
the Seanchan high lord along with something that Egeanin found in her
search. Once in front of the high lord Turak, Egeanin gives the
cuendillar disk to him as a gift. Turak comments how cuendillar is
even more rare in these lands than back across the ocean. Egeanin
leaves and Turak goes about questioning Domon . He offers him some of
their drink, kaf, and Domon "begins to lie his way out of Falme".
Chapter 30 -- Daes Dae'mar
Hurin has become exceedingly formal in addressing 'Lord Rand'. The
innkeeper, Master Cuale, brings Rand two more invitations from
Cairhienin houses. They are from King Galldrian of House Riatin and
Lord Barthanes of House Damodred. Rand wants to burn them like the
rest, but since every house has now sent an invitation to him, Hurin
adamantly councils him not to do so. He decides to show them off in
the common room to make people talk and thus buying him more time
until he has to answer them. Rand and Loial go out to the Foregate to
inquire if Ingtar or Selene have entered the city. They have been
doing this for the past several days. The man at the counter, the same
man as every other day, has a very fake smile and treats the requests
like he has never seen Rand before. He tells them that neither of them
have entered the city. Rand catches a glimpse of Caldevwin in a room
behind the desk, but the man denies him being there. Rand is very
frustrated but manages to leave politely.
While returning to the inn, Loial notices a fire ahead. As they get
closer they realize that it is their inn, the Defender of the
Dragonwall. They both rush in to save Hurin, the Horn and, the dagger.
Loial leaves his books to burn in order to help Rand with Hurin. The
Horn is gone. Rand goes back into his room for the banner that
Moiraine said his life might depend on. He debates for a few moments
in front of the dresser. "I could still let it burn." He decides to
take it.
Once outside, Rand searches for a Wisdom to tend to Hurin; he is
injured badly. Wisdoms are called 'Readers' in Cairhien. At that point
Mat comes up behind Rand. "You came too late."
Chapter 31 -- On the Scent
Rand tells the group (Verin, Mat, Perrin, Ingtar) about how he had the
Horn but that it has just been stolen. Verin heals Hurin and they all
go to The Great Tree inn to talk. Tiedra is the innkeeper. In a
private dining room Rand tells the story about the Stones and Selene.
All throughout the discussion, Perrin is thinking to himself. "Rand is
the Shadowkiller...Shadowkiller. A Man who can channel. A man the
wolves hold in awe....I know about you. It is only fair you know my
secret, too." Hurin returns form his search of the city and says that
he 'smells' the Darkfriends in Lord Barthanes's manor. They conclude
that Barthanes is a Darkfriend. Rand reveals that he has an invitation
from him. They briefly discuss the sa'angreal mentioned in the
invitation and they begin to make plans to attend Barthanes' party.
"Watching Verin's smile, small and mysterious, Perrin felt a chill. He
did not think Rand knew know half of what he thought he did. Not
half."
Chapter 32 -- Dangerous Words
Rand, Verin, Matt, Loial, Hurin and, Ingtar go to Barthanes' party.
Hurin and Mat pose as servants so they can go about freely to try and
locate the Horn and the dagger. Once inside, Loial says to Rand that
he can feel a Waygate near. Lord Barthanes approaches Rand and starts
conversation to try and figure out what Rand's motives are in the
Great Game. He talks about Galldrian, the sa'angreal statues, Rand's
heron mark blade, and his Aiel features. Shortly thereafter, Rand is
cornered by three women. He sees Thom while being asked a million
questions and makes an excuse to go talk to him in order to get away
from them. Rand tells Thom how the Horn and dagger were stolen. Thom
thinks that Rand wants his help again, but Rand fervently denies it.
Hurin comes to tell Rand that his manservant, Mat, has fallen and hurt
his leg. Before following Hurin, Thom says to Rand: "You play very
well at being a lord, but remember this: Cairhien may play Daes
Dae'mar, but it was the White Tower made the Great Game in the first
place. Watch yourself boy."
Chapter 33 -- A Message From the Dark
Hurin tells Rand that Mat is all right, and that he just needed an
excuse to get Rand away from the party. He has traced the scent of the
Darkfriends to an enclosed area in the garden. Mat says that he cannot
feel the dagger at all, but Rand replies that that doesn't mean it
isn't there. Rand instructs Mat to go find Ingtar and Verin. He
obliges while making several sarcastic remarks to Rand about 'his
lordship'. Loial and Hurin follow Rand over the wall to the Waygate.
Rand opens the gate but Machin Shin is there and it tries to get out
at them. Rand uses the One Power to force it back in and Loial puts
the Avendesora leaf back in it' place. Rand remarks to himself how the
flow of the One Power was killing him, but how wonderful it felt in
doing so. Once back over the wall, Rand thinks he hears someone else
in the garden, but he never finds out if it was just his imagination
or not.
Just before leaving, Barthanes give Rand a message from Fain. He tells
him to meet Fain on Toman Head. If he doesn't, Fain will hound his
blood, his people and those he loves. Once back in the inn, Rand tells
this to the others. He tells of the Waygate and Machin Shin and how he
has to go to Toman Head. The others all decide to go with him,
although Ingtar believes Barthanes tale for a lie. Since that Waygate
in not an option through which to make their journey, Verin suggests
the one at Stedding Tsofu. Rand vows to Verin in private that once
they have found the Horn and Mat's dagger, he is through with Aes
Sedai.
Chapter 34 -- The Wheel Weaves
Thom was kept back at Barthanes' all night while being questioned by
nobles of his involvement with `the young Andoran Lord'. He walks into
his room at The Bunch Of Grapes to find Dena dead; her throat has been
cut. Two men jump up from hiding and attack him. He kills the first
one and incapacitates the other and questions him. He claims to work
for Barthanes and offers Thom great amounts of gold for information.
Thom kills him. Zera comes in and identifies the first dead man a
servant to Galldrian, not Barthanes. As Thom leaves the room, they can
hear a riot starting outside. He wants revenge for Dena's death.
Fain is in Falme. He is talking to the high lord, Turak. He claims to
have a great gift for him. He tells of the Horn inside the chest and
tempts him to use it. Fain also says that his family has had the Horn
and has been faithful to Artur Hawkwing and his followers ever since
they went across the Aryth Ocean. Turak tells Fain of his intentions
to take the Horn back to the Empress. This excites Fain as it reveals
a leader he did not know about that he can manipulate for his own
desires. Fain makes several comments to himself about being patient
like a worm in the root. Turak intends to keep Fain around until he
returns to Seanchan in order for him to tell stories about his loyal
family traditions. "I will see (Rand al'Thor) dead at last. The world
will pay for what was done to me."
Chapter 35 -- Stedding Tsofu
A pretty Ogier girl named Erith greets Verin and the others once they
reach Stedding Tsofu. (Rand feels the One Power cut off from him as he
crosses into it.) Erith asks them to leave some of their armed men
outside of the Stedding. Loial tells the boys about the Longing and
how it came to be. He feels good to be back in a Stedding although he
is very worried about some Ogier girl wanting to marry him. In town,
they are amazed by the enormity of the Great Trees. Three Aiel women
confront them, intent on violence. Verin stops things before they get
too far out of hand with reference to `the pact' of peace in Stedding.
Mat tells Rand of their encounter with the Aiel on Kinslayer's Dagger.
Hurin comments an how 'clean' the air smells because there has been no
violence. Loial is very worried the Elders are going to send him back
home. They all make their way to go see the Elders.
Chapter 36 -- Among the Elders
As the group make their way through town to see the Elders, many of
the Ogier women take notice of Loial which makes him very anxious.
Once they arrive at the Elder's place, Loial decides to wait outside
and read a book. Alar, one of the Elders, is wary about letting them
use the Waygate, and sends for an Ogier named Trayal. He is the last
of the Ogier to have been in the Ways. All that is left of him is his
body. All of his soul and his mind has been stolen by Machin Shin.
Rand, Mat, and Perrin succeed in convincing the Elders to let Loial
continue to travel with them. Outside, Loial tells the boys that Erith
gave him flowers and said she thought he was handsome. However, he
hasn't changed his mind about going on with his ta'veren friends.
Once they get to the Waygate they find the same situation that Rand,
Loial, and Hurin found at Barthanes'; Machin Shin is waiting at the
entrance. Rand thinks that it is following him. As an alternative,
Hurin suggests using a Portal Stone, even if it isn't as fast as the
Ways. Alar reveals that there is one not far from where they are
standing.
Chapter 37 -- What Might Be
Ingtar seems reluctant to use the Stone. He says he wants to go back
and make Barthanes talk. Verin: "More than once I have heard you say
you would ride to Shayol Ghul if need be to recover the Horn. Do you
hold back now, at this?" Ingtar: "I hold back at nothing....."
Verin says to Rand that he has been transported by a Portal Stone more
recently than she, but that she has never used one. Verin makes Rand
chose a symbol on the Stone in hopes of getting them to Toman Head.
Rand picks one and lets the One Power flow through him. Something goes
wrong and Rand experiences many lives that might have been....He dies
by a Trolloc sword on that Winternight long ago....He is married to
Egwene and is going mad. She dies and shortly thereafter he is part of
a group of men that head up to Taren Ferry to defend their land from
invading Trollocs. He dies by a Trolloc sword....Egwene dies a week
after their wedding. Rand takes to traveling around the world and ends
up in the Queen's Guard. He eventually becomes a Captain and uses the
One Power in battles. While fighting Artur Hawkwing's armies returned
on at the Mountains of Mist, he retreats all the way back to Caemlyn
and lets the Power run rampant destroying much of the land around him.
He is burned to a crisp by a lighting bolt from behind him....He goes
through hundreds of lives, all completely different. Each time he has
the feeling that he was meant for something else and doesn't belong
where he is. Each time he dies he hears a soft whisper in his ear; "I
have won again, Lews Therin."
They end up arriving on Toman Head, but it is autumn. They have taken
more than four months to get there. Verin says they have taken too
long and that they must head out west immediately. Before they leave,
Verin heals (almost) everyone from the effects of the trip. Rand
refuses, saying that he doesn't want the help of any Aes Sedai.
Chapter 38 -- Practice
It is a day off for the Novices in the White tower. Nynaeve and Min
are in Egwene's room, where Egwene is practicing juggling balls of
light. Min teases Egwene about how she likes to look at Galad, just
like every other woman in the Tower. Min tells her that Galad is _so_
good that he would hurt someone close to him if he thought it was for
a greater good. Elayne comes in telling of a rumour that King
Galldrian is dead. She also tells of Logain who she saw crying. Logain
makes her think of Rand who she hasn't had dreams about since the
River Queen.
Egwene thinks about the hole between her and Elayne's room and how she
has heard Elayne cry herself to sleep many a night because of their
tough lives as Novices. Min says that she reads danger around each of
the other women in the room. Liandrin comes in to talk to Nynaeve and
Egwene. She tells them that Rand is in danger and that they must go to
Toman Head to help him. They are to leave an hour before sunset. Min
and Elayne come back as soon as Liandrin leaves. They were listening
through the hole in the wall, They say that they are going too. Min
sees that the danger surrounding her friends has become more certain.
They begin preparing for their journey.
Chapter 39 -- Flight From the White Tower
While leaving the Tower, the four women have some close calls with
being recognized but manage to make it out safely. Once they arrive at
the Grove, just outside the city, Liandrin appears from behind some
bushes. She is upset about the presence of Min and Elayne. Liandrin
goes on to say that if they hadn't have come, they probably wouldn't
have lived through the night. Liandrin opens the nearby Waygate much
to the astonishment of the other women. She intends to reach Toman
Head through the Ways. Liandrin has some sort of parchment to direct
her at each of the Guidings. She won't let anyone else see it. At one
point, Min admits that she could have gone her own way instead of into
the Ways, but she is now as much of the Pattern as the other three.
After two days of traveling, they arrive at the gate to Toman Head.
Chapter 40 -- Damane
Egwene is the first out of the Waygate. She notices a large group of
men looking at her and her friends with an astonished look on their
faces. With them are women with other women on leashes and two more
women without anyone on their leashes. Liandrin knows the groups
leader, Lady Suroth, who is in a palanquin with eight men holding her
up. Egwene is confused as to how these people can help them help Rand.
Several of the men make a grab for each of Min, Elayne, Egwene and
Nynaeve. Egwene feels a collar close around her neck. She is told by
the woman at the other end that she is now damane, who goes on to
explain the concepts of a'dam and sul'dam. Egwene comes to realize
that the tone in which the sul'dam, Renna, is talking to her is like
how one would talk to a pet.
Nynaeve and Elayne have escaped the men that tried to grab them so
Suroth sends men and a damane out to find them. During the chase,
lighting and exploding trees are visible to all of the people with
Suroth. Liandrin and Suroth have some harsh words while waiting for
the search party to return. They talk about serving their "master".
Liandrin goes back through the Waygate. The search party comes back
empty handed. In order to save Min's life from the soldier she
stabbed, Egwene begs Suroth to let her friend live. Both Min and
Egwene are subjected to intense pain from damane and sul'dam
respectively as they head back to Falme. Renna admires the spirit that
she sees in Egwene and thinks she will be one of the best damane ever.
Nynaeve is hiding in the bushes in case she is still being hunted. She
reflects on how angry she was and how she had killed a soldier with a
lightning bolt and struck one of the women with another. The longer
she goes without seeing any of her pursuers, the less angry she
becomes and thus the less she can touch saidar. Elayne comes from out
of the bushes. She tells Nynaeve how Min had cut the man who was
holding her, allowing Elayne to escape. Elayne feels very cowardly
about running and leaving Egwene and Min in the hands of those people.
Nynaeve: "We will go to Falme. I hope Liandrin is there. I will make
her curse the day her mother laid eyes on her father." They start
their journey out west, to Falme, both on the back of Nynaeve's horse.
Chapter 41 -- Disagreements
It has been three days since Rand and the others traveled using the
Stone. It is very cold and damp outside as they head west to Toman
Head. They arrive at a village called Atuan's Mill. The Seanchan have
already been there and have all but razed it. The group gathers inside
an inn to discuss plans about what they should do. Ingtar has become
very discouraged about finding Fain. He doesn't believe that they will
ever find him where they are going. Verin and Rand are very adamant
that they will indeed find Fain, the Horn, and the dagger on Toman
Head. Rand also reveals to the group what Fain had said in his message
from Barthanes; how he would hurt the Two Rivers and those Rand loved
if Rand did not go to Toman Head. Perrin, Mat, and Loial all assure
Rand that they will continue following Rand and Hurin to find Fain.
Eventually Ingtar agrees too.
Rand leaves the rest of the group to go up stairs to sleep. Ba'alzamon
appears in his room holding the Dragon banner.He is once again
pressuring Rand into conceding to the Shadow or to face eternity as a
slave to the Dark One himself. In reaction to Rand drawing an
incredible amount of saidin through himself, Ba'alzamon says "Fool!
You will destroy yourself", revealing that maybe he needs Rand alive
for whatever his plans are and that his claims to destroy Lews Therin
once and for all are just intimidation. Just before exiting,
Ba'alzamon reminds Rand that he alone can teach him how to control
saidin.
Chapter 42 -- Falme
Nynaeve and Elayne have been in Falme for a few weeks. They have
rented an attic from a fishermen to sleep in and have been avoiding
the damane who would be able to identify them as able to channel.
Presently, they are hiding in an alley from a sul'dam and damane
passing by. Elayne reveals that she had just stolen a few apples from
a store by channeling which gets Nynaeve very upset. At one point the
two women had had to hide in their attic for three days after Nynaeve
had channeled. The result was damane all over the city looking for the
woman who had channeled. Nynaeve had been trying to figure out how to
undo the damane collars so she could free Egwene. They have located
the houses in which they think Egwene is kept, but they have not yet
found her. Nynaeve continues on planning their rescue.
Egwene is in her room in the damane houses. She is trying to figure
out how to undo her collar by means of channeling. She is unsuccessful
as it is very painful to do anything that is forbidden by the sul'dam.
If she tries to do anything of that sort she is overcome with
incredible amounts of pain. This includes taking her leash off of the
hook on which it rests, trying to or even thinking about hurting her
sul'dam, thinking about escaping, or channeling without her sul'dam
present.
Min arrives for her weekly visit. She is wearing a green Seanchan
dress. Egwene tells her how she is to be taken across the ocean
because of her rare ability to locate underground ore deposits. Min
tells her that she has found a ship that will take them away from the
Seanchan once Egwene has escaped. Egwene tells Min that she is unable
to get the collar off and that she should escape by herself. She also
tells about the Aes Sedai who have become damane and how one wants to
kill herself but is unable to. This worries Min, but Egwene assures
her that she is not going to kill herself. Renna comes in, detects
that Egwene had been channeling and begins punishing her intensely.
Chapter 43 -- A Plan
Min forces herself to leave the damane's house with Egwene's screams
slowly fading in the distance. Out on the streets, she sees Nynaeve
and Elayne for the first time since they they had come out of the
Waygate weeks ago. Min tells them about Egwene's situation and how she
is supposed to be sent to Seanchan in a few days because of her
exceptional abilities. Nynaeve is intent on getting her out of there.
Min recounts her plans with a ship's captain to sail them away once
Egwene is freed. Nynaeve wants to talk to this man and they head down
towards the shore to find him.
On the way down, the three of them kneel to a passing palanquin
carrying some Seanchan royalty. They enter an inn called the Three
Plum Blossoms. Waiting in the common room is Bayle Domon, captain of
the Spray. He assures Nynaeve that he can get away from the Seanchan
if he can manage to get away from the shore without having a damane
destroying his ship. She also reveals to him that she and two of the
others that will be traveling with him (Elayne and Egwene) are Aes
Sedai. Domon gets very scared when Nynaeve shows him her ring for fear
that someone else might see it. He agrees to give them passage. Domon
tells the women about one Aes Sedai that he saw surrounded by six
damane that did something horrible to her. The women recognize this as
stilling.
Nynaeve and the other two women leave the inn having made Domon
promise to be prepared to set sail whenever they are ready. Nynaeve
sags outside against the wall from the strain of appearing extremely
confident in front of the Domon: "Light, but I was afraid he was going
to say no."
Chapter 44 -- Five Will Ride Forth
Perrin and the others are preparing to leave the village they are in.
The entire Village Council and their families were burned over eight
months ago by the Seanchan. Someone is entering the city as they are
leaving. It is Whitecloaks. Perrin is seen and recognised by Bornhald.
As they are riding away, Perrin contacts the wolves and learns that
they are not being followed.
Geofram Bornhald gives very specific orders to Child Byar for when
they confront the Seanchan. He tells him to retreat to the distance
and to watch the battle so he can report back to Pedron Niall and then
to his son Dain to tell him how he died. Bornhald doesn't think he
will ever leave Almoth Plain.
Rand is practising his forms while waiting for the scouting party to
return. Ingtar watches him practice `Heron Wading In the Rushes'; "You
shouldn't be bothering with that one. It leaves you completely open."
Hurin, Perrin and Mat return to report having found Fain's trail
heading to Falme. Ingtar decides to send in a small party. The other
four to go are Rand, Mat, Perrin and, Hurin. While they are deciding,,
Verin is drawing a wheel in the dirt with five spokes; she insists
that only five people go. When they have decided Rand sees her wipe
out part of the wheel with her foot. Only four spokes are left.
Chapter 45 -- Blademaster
It is Dawn in the city of Falme. Nynaeve, Elayne and, Min are prepared
to execute their plan to free Egwene. They are spread out along the
side of the street waiting for a sul'dam and damane to walk by. As
soon as they are near, Nynaeve uses the power to open the leash and
sets the girl free. The damane runs away but the three women take the
sul'dam, Seta, to a back alley and organize their next move. Nynaeve
is going to pose as the sul'dam and instead of having Elayne wear the
collar around her neck, Nynaeve decides to use Seta. Putting the
collar on the woman's neck is a horrendous experience for her. The
collar is only supposed to work on women who can channel but Nynaeve
can feel Seta on the other end of it. Seta is begging with Nynaeve not
to make her wear it, but she promises to go along with what they tell
her to do. They head off to the damane quarters intent on freeing
Egwene.
Domon and his crew are aboard the Spray waiting for Nynaeve and the
others to arrive. He has made sure everything is ready to leave on a
moments notice.
The group of Five enter Falme and Hurin proceeds to lead them around
searching for Fain's scent. As they are walking they see what Rand
recognizes as a grolm. He doesn't believe they can be real. Shortly
afterwards, Mat says he can feel the dagger inside the building that
the grolm were guarding. Ingtar doesn't care about the dagger; he
wants the Horn. Rand rationalizes that if they find the dagger they
will find Fain and the Horn. Accepting reason, Ingtar leads them to an
alley to get behind the house and then inside. He leaps over the wall
first to take care of the guard there and the others follow shortly
afterwards. They make their way up the stairs to a room that contains
both the dagger and the Horn. While Mat and Ingtar claim what they
have been searching for, Rand looks out the window, he sees Egwene
across the street. Perrin and Mat tell him he must be imagining things
but Rand believes he saw her with a chain around her neck and feels
compelled to rescue her.
At that moment, Turak and some of his men enter the room. One of them
tries to take the Horn and Mat stabs him with his dagger. The man
swells up into a black mass in the middle of the floor.
Turak engages Rand as the Five fight to escape. Rand assumes the void
and is fighting with all of his skill but is barely able to fend of
the High Lord's attacks. With one move Rand manages to attack for the
first time and slays Turak. It is the first man he has ever killed.The
guards mutter an oath to Turak and then slay themselves. The servants
remain in the bowing position that they maintained throughout the
entire engagement. Rand and the others flee for the door as Mat spots
officers entering the building. Rand swears to himself that he will
free Egwene.
Chapter 46 -- To Come Out of the Shadow
The four women enter the building of the damane and head up to the
fourth floor to Egwene's room. Egwene is overjoyed to see them. She is
surprised to see Seta with the collar around her neck, but it proves a
theory that she has. She tells the other women that the sul'dam can
indeed channel just like the damane. The damane are the girls that
have the ability born into them whereas the sul'dam are the ones who
have the ability to learn. Renna, comes into the room and is shocked
to see Egwene without her collar on. Before she can react, Egwene
throws a jug at her, shattering it, and slaps the collar around
Renna's neck. Renna lies on the ground as Egwene makes her feel the
pain that she was made to feel. Nynaeve makes her stop and they leave
the two sul'dam sobbing as they head out to the street towards the
harbour.
There are men approaching from all directions. Nynaeve says that they
have nothing to do with them; they should be able to walk right past
down to meet Domon. Egwene exclaims: "I will not go back (to the
collar). I'll die first. Let me show them what they have taught me."
The ground explodes beneath the soldiers. Fireballs and lightning
begins to fall from the sky at the four women.
Aboard the Spray, Bayle Domon witnesses the lightning flashing from a
blue sky and has to stop his crew from setting sail claiming that he
gave his word to wait for Nynaeve and the others.
Outside the city, Geofram Bornhald sees the lightning flashes and
gives the order to Child Byar to distance himself from the ranks to
enable himself to report back to Pedron Niall and Dain Bornhald. He
then orders his legion into the city.
Rand is with Ingtar in an alleyway watching the lightning flash above
their heads. He is still intent on finding Egwene. Ingtar begins with
what seems like babbling, but it is his confession. "I never knew what
he was going to do. A pale little man you didn't seem to really notice
even when you were looking at him. Take him inside Fal Dara, I was
told, inside the fortress. I didn't want to, but I had to do it. You
understand? I had to. I never knew what he intended until he shot that
arrow. I still don't know if it was meant for the Amyrlin, or for
you."
Hurin approaches near the end of the confession and Rand leaves with
him. Ingtar stays behind to fight the Seanchan to allow Rand and the
others to escape and to hopefully redeem himself for all he has done.
"`The Light shine on you, Lord Ingtar of House Shinowa, and may you
shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand.' He touched Ingtar's
shoulder. `The last embrace of the mother welcome you home' Hurin
gasped."
Chapter 47 -- The Grave Is No Bar To My Call
Rand is intent on returning to the city to find Egwene, but an army of
Seanchan is approaching from one side and a legion of Whitecloaks from
the other. Mat states that there is nothing in the prophecy of the
Horn that says it can't be used before the Last Battle and proceeds to
sound it.
Geofram Bornhald hears the mournful sound of the Horn.Lightning
flashes down from the sky hitting his men. He orders them to charge.
As fog surrounds him and lightning continues to destroy the ground
beneath his feet; his thoughts are of regret as Byar will not be able
to tell Dain how his father died.
Out of the fog in front of Rand rides Artur Hawkwing, Birgitte, and
the rest of the Hundred Companions. They greet Rand as Lews Therin and
ask him if he has the banner of the Dragon to lead them into battle.
Perrin takes the banner and Mat plays the Horn as they charge. The fog
becomes ever thicker around Rand until he can no longer see anyone
else. He is flung from the back of Red, his horse, as Ba'alzamon
appears in front of him. When he gets up the horse is gone. Rand can
see Perrin and Mat, the Hundred Companions, the Seanchan, and the
Whitecloaks fighting beneath him. Ba'alzamon once more lays claim to
Rand's soul and Rand refuses to concede. The two of them engage in
sword-fight. Rand realizes that when he advances in his battle, his
companions down below advance and when he is forced back, so are they.
Rand assumes the attack position of the Heron Wading in the Rushes
with a ridiculous grin on his face. Ba'alzamon stabs him in the side
with his staff, but Rand manages to stab him right through the heart.
The world explodes in fire.
Chapter 48 -- First Claiming
Min is in the middle of Falme amidst the fire and destruction. All the
Seanchan ships in the harbour, save one, are on fire. The Spray is
gone. Min sees a figure, Birgitte, launch a silver arrow into the last
ship setting it on fire, and then disappear. She finds Rand lying on
the ground and carries him inside a building and into a bed. She is
lying beside him, warming him, when Egwene walks in. Min is very
attracted to him and says openly to Egwene that she wants him. Egwene
says that both her and Elayne could feel him pulling them to him. When
Egwene leaves to get Nynaeve, Lanfear appears to Min naming herself
and claiming Rand (Lews Therin), as hers. She tells Min to look after
him for her until she returns.
Child Byar rides away from Falme having seen the entire Legion
destroyed. He is heading back to Amadicia to report to Pedron Niall.
Chapter 49 -- What Was Meant To Be
Rand wakes up with Min beside him. She tells him that they freed
Egwene. Nynaeve, Elayne, and Egwene have returned to the Tower, and
Mat has gone to be healed from the dagger. Hurin and Verin have gone
with them. Moiraine is still there although Rand wishes she wasn't. He
is still very intent on finding Fain.
Moiraine has two broken seals on the Dark One's prison and tells Rand
that three of the seven are now broken. Furthermore, she tells him
that his battle with Ba'alzamon took place in the sky for all to see.
Perrin, Loial, Uno, and Masema are still there. Masema pledges his
loyalty to Rand as the Dragon Reborn. Rand wants to be free of the
title of the Dragon and his obligation to fight in Tarman Gai'don, but
he remembers "Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than
mountain". He makes his decision.
Chapter 50 -- After
Stories of what happened on Almoth Plain spread across the land. It is
distorted as it travels, but all tell of the battle in the sky and the
forces following the banner of the Dragon into battle against Artur
Hawkwing's armies returned from across ocean.
Craig Cassar